Definition of Protection Order

Filing for an Order of Protection is based on a two fold test. The first is your relationship with the defendant and the second is whether or not a domestic violence crime has been committed.

Relationship

Relationship includes:
  • Your current or former spouse
  • Someone with whom you live or have lived
  • One party pregnant by the other party or someone with whom you have a child in common
  • Your relative, or your current spouse's relative

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence includes:
  • Assault
  • Aggravated Assault
  • Child or Vulnerable adult abuse
  • Criminal Damage
  • Criminal Trespass - first, second or third degree
  • Crimes Against Children
  • Custodial Interference
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Endangerment
  • Kidnapping
  • Threatening or Intimidating
  • Unlawful Imprisonment
You must tell the Court if there are any other Court proceedings regarding the defendant's conduct toward you or any other Court orders in effect. It does not matter if the Court proceedings are going on now, or if they happened in the past. Tell this Court about all of them.